Strick's Ramblings

Remember when you could fill your car up and only use a $20 bill? Well, I have accepted that we have passed that years ago. Remember when you could take the change out of the console of your vehicle and fill your lawnmower up? I certainly do. I think that the days of filling anything up for less than $5 are over. The days of taking $5 to the store to fill your lawnmower up and buying a coke are over.

Here’s what sparked this. I went to the store to fill my 1 gallon gas can up so I can mow the grass (Ok, so my two sons can mow the grass). After filling the gas can up, I only got back 10 cents from a $5 bill. I mean, I didn’t fill up a 5 gallon gas can… this was a small 1 gallon can. I think the lawnmower holds ½ gallon. So, that’s $2.50 per lawnmower “fill-up.” This is ridiculous. I have two cars, both run on Gasoline. Now, to fill both cars up, will take a $100 bill.

Of course, when I was a wee little lad, around the age of 10, I could also remember purchasing an ICE cold Coca Cola Classic, 16 ounce glass bottle for 35 cents. Then, when I was done drinking it, I could return the bottle and I would get 10 cents back. Return 10 bottles, and I would receive an entire dollar, to do with what I please. Of course, in the 80’s, a dollar would get you a bit farther that it does now. My Grandmother would always send me to the store down the road. Mr. Garlands store as it was called. This store was located on prime Highway 27 frontage. The price was gas was around $1.00 per gallon. The winters were colder… just seems that life was easier for a 10 year old. No Nintendo DS games, no Playstations, no XBOX… only Hot wheel cars, BB gun, army men, and my bicycle and cousins and friends to play with. Enough for now…